Butterfly Eyes

Butterfly Eyes and Other Secrets of the Meadow

Discover the hidden world of the meadow in this unique combination of poetry riddles and science wisdom. Beginning with the rising sun and ending with twilight, this book takes us on a tour through the fields, encouraging us to watch for a nest of rabbits, a foamy spittlebug, a leaping grasshopper, bright milkweed, a quick fox, and a cruising hawk.

What's in a meadow? Lots of things you may have noticed (a bright monarch, a leaping grasshopper, a cheerful goldfinch), and some things you probably haven't (a nest of rabbits, a quick fox, a foamy spittlebug). Beginning with the rising sun and ending with twilight, stroll through a meadow full of secrets, challenging yourself with poetry riddles and adding to your store of science wisdom.

Year 1: Seasons
Explore outside through nature hunts, playing outside and painting the weather. Discover how all these activities and more meet the standards set in the national curriculum and learn more about the world all around us.

Year 1: Tell Me A Story: One
Within this topic your child can create their own nature story walk through words and pictures. They can design their own spoon characters and make a story through discussion cards, plus more.

Year 2: Art In Nature
Paint using leaves, sticks and other items from nature, explore the colours of the outdoors. Get creative taking pictures, playing music and making your own land art.

Year 2: Tell Me A Story: Two
Within this topic your child can use story card prompts and timelines to make their own imagination come to life. Use prompts, speech bubbles and sliding puppets to help make literacy fun.

  • Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
  • Format: Hardback
  • Print length: 48 pages
  • Dimensions: 22.86 x 0.97 x 26.67 cm
  • Reading age: 6 - 12 years old
  • Publication date: 15 Sept. 2006
  • ISBN: 9780618563135

Joyce Sidman

Joyce is the author of many award-winning children’s poetry books, including the Newbery Honor-winning Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night, and two Caldecott Honor books. Her recent book The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian’s Art Changed Science won the 2019 Robert F. Sibert Medal. Joyce also has received the NCTE Award for Excellence in Children's Poetry for her body of work. In her home state of Minnesota, she teaches poetry writing to school children and walks through the woods with her dog Watson.

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